Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower

The story of naval warfare is told in dramatic style at Explosion!,
an interactive museum housed in the Royal Navy’s former Ordnance Depot at Priddy’s Hard, centred around the powder magazine designed in 1771.

Priddy’s Hard was far enough from the main dockyard for the safe storage of up to 6,500 barrels of gunpowder. In the Napoleonic Wars, this was where all Royal Navy warships including HMS Victory came to load up their guns and ammunition, collecting them from small boats called ‘powder hoys’ which had in turn collected barrels of gunpowder carried in barrows down the Rolling Way to the harbour edge.

"This little place is a gem, how nice to have to get the boat to it... there is so much to see and do... definitely worth a visit, the whole family will love it."Kim, Hayling Island

The site has adapted as times have changed. With the introduction of breech loading guns in the late 1850s, it was no longer necessary to make barrels or test gunpowder here and a series of large magazines were built to fill and store shells. In the 1880s, the substitution of highly explosive cordite for gunpowder as a propellant required the building of a narrow gauge railway to transport ordnance between filling and storage buildings. Change continued through the 20th century with the development of torpedoes, depth charges and small arms up to the arrival of guided missiles in the 1960s. The last time Priddy’s Hard supplied weapons to the Royal Navy was during the Falklands War in 1982.

Camber Lights CaféOpen to everyone

Enjoy one of Gosport's best kept secrets when you visit Camber Lights Café at Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower. Sit back and admire the scenic surroundings of Portsmouth Harbour - an ideal viewpoint for seeing HMS Queen Elizabeth when she's alongside Portsmouth Naval Base.

The café serves a range of cold and hot drinks, cakes and snacks - perfect for hungry adventurers. The café is open to non-museum visitors as well. Open from 10am until 4pm daily.

February half term opening timesExplosion Museum of Naval Firepower will be open during February half term for all to enjoy. The opening times are as follows:

12 - 18 February 2018 (10am until 4pm) Last entry at 3.20pm Normal winter hours will resume until 31 March 2018